Indian Tiger Safari
Ranthambore National Park has been a tiger reserve since Project Tiger started in 1972 and was formerly the hunting ground of the Maharajas of Jaipur in Eastern Rajasthan. It is now one of the best places to see Tigers in India, although a sighting is far from guaranteed, as I found out. There is also a lot of other flora and fauna to see and wonderful luxurious campsites in which to stay.
This article is a review of this wonderful destination in Rajasthan, India, travel tips advice, recommendations and photographs of Ranthambore National Park and its flora and fauna.
See also...
Asian Photo Gallery
Asian Hotels
Asian Vacations Destinations
Table of Contents: Rajasthan
- Ranthambore National Park
- Map of Rajasthan
- Getting There
- Essential Reading
- Accommodation
- Current Weather in Rajasthan, India
- Top Quality Digital SLR Cameras
- The Safari
- Photographic Equipment
- More Travel Web-Sites
- Guidebooks for India
- Photography and Travel Lenses
- Photo Gallery
- More About Me
- Please Follow Me (Twitter)
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- Some of My Favourite Photos
- Some More of My Favourite Photos
Ranthambore National Park
Tiger Tiger...?
Ranthanbhor:
There are about 40 tigers and 40 leopards in the Tiger reserve and it is claimed to be one of the best places to view them in the wild. The total area of the park is 1,334 sq km surrounded by mountain ranges and with two rivers running through it and several man-made lakes, it has an incredibly diverse selection of wildlife species including sloth bear, jackals, jungle cat, monitor lizards and hundreds of species of bird. To add to the wonderful scenery, flora and fauna there are also many ruins of a fort built about 1,000 years ago. Lake palaces and fortifications being gradually reclaimed by dense deciduous forest make a wonderful backdrop for wildlife viewing.
Ranthanbhor:
Getting There
Travel in India is not easy and can be dangerous. On my previous business trip to India I was involved in a total of four minor car accidents: A bus, two cars and a motorbike. The driver didn't even stop for the bike, but spent ages being shouted at by the enormous number of people who got off the bus. Ranthambore is, however, relatively easy to get to and we didn't have a single accident. We even had seat belts in the cars. We were picked up by a driver (prearranged from the UK) in Agra and driven to Bharatpur Junction railway station, stopping off at Fatehpur Sikri for a quick tour of the royal palace and temples, which is certainly worth a visit. We took the Nizamundin Kota Express from Bharatpur Junction to Sawai Madhopur. A pleasant safe journey compared to going by road, although not as good as the very best business trains in India, which are fantastic. On arrival we were pounced on by porters who would not take no for an answer and ran off with our bags, much to our annoyance. We had packed light and didn't need help (and more to the point, I hate tipping) We got the bags back once the appropriate ransom had been paid.
Essential Reading
India - Culture Smart!: the essential guide to customs & culture
Amazon Price: $9.95 (as of 11/11/2009) 
A Good Indian Wife: A Novel
Amazon Price: $17.96 (as of 11/11/2009)
My Job Went to India: 52 Ways to Save Your Job (Pragmatic Programmers)
Amazon Price: $13.57 (as of 11/11/2009)
Accommodation
A jeep from the Sher Bagh "Hotel" came to collect us from the station and dropped us off near our "room". It may claim to be an hotel, but it's really a very posh campsite. The accommodation consists of huge white tents, and to protect the environment there are few permanent structures, except for the main building, which also has a roof terrace bar and restaurant. I have camped many times before at Glastonbury Festival, high up in the Andes in Peru and out on the plains in Botswana, surrounded by lions and honey badgers, but this was very different. These were luxury tents with bathrooms, electricity and a veranda with comfortable chairs and a walking stick in a pot with which to fight off the tigers. As the evening approaches all of the guests (and we really did feel like guests here) wander over to a "bar", a clearing in the forest, for the medicinal gin and tonic. Excellent Indian buffet food was served later in the dining tent.Luxury Tents:
Current Weather in Rajasthan, India
What is the Climate Like in Rajasthan, India
Current weather conditions in Jaipur, India
Local Pollen Reports
20°C (Feels like 20°C)
Last update: 11/12/09 4:00 AM Local Time
Humidity: 26%Visibility: 4.0 km
Dew Point: 0°C
UV Index: 0 (Lawn and Garden Weather)
Barometer: 1009.1mm falling
Moon: Rush Hour Traffic
Wind: 13km/h From: Airport Conditions
Today
Haze
High: 22°C
Low: 18°C
Sunrise: 6:44 AM
Sunset: 5:38 PM
Friday
Nov 13
Rain
High: 26°C
Low: 21°C
Sunrise: 6:45 AM
Sunset: 5:37 PM
Saturday
Nov 14
Scattered T-Storms
High: 28°C
Low: 19°C
Sunrise: 6:46 AM
Sunset: 5:37 PM
Sunday
Nov 15
Scattered T-Storms
High: 29°C
Low: 18°C
Sunrise: 6:46 AM
Sunset: 5:36 PM
Top Quality Digital SLR Cameras
D80 10.2 Megapixel, Digital SLR Camera Body
Amazon Price: (as of 11/11/2009)
Nikon D90 DX 12.3MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED AF-S VR DX Nikkor Zoom Lens
Amazon Price: Too low to display (as of 11/11/2009)
Nikon D700 12.1MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)
Amazon Price: Too low to display (as of 11/11/2009)
Nikon D60 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX VR Nikkor Zoom Lens
Amazon Price: $664.99 (as of 11/11/2009)
The Safari
Ranthambore Fort:
The park is wonderful and the Ranthambore Fort extremely impressive. The accommodation and relaxed evenings cannot be faulted, but the guides rarely spoke and were perhaps the worst I have encountered on my travels. I may however have slightly biased opinion because we really were very unlucky not to have seen a single tiger in four days. I would recommend going to Ranthambore, but bear in mind there is always the chance of being disappointed.
A Tiger! (Unfortunately not a wild one. This was in captivity in Jaipur)
Advantages: Wonderful setting, scenery, flora fauna and accommodation
Disadvantages: Didn't see any tigers
Summary: Disappointing
A related article was also published on Helium
Ranthanbhor:
Photographic Equipment
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand by
More Travel Web-Sites
Maharajas' Palace Hotels:Hotels In India
Hotels In Asia
Other Travel Websites:
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Iguacu Waterfalls in Brazil
The Amazon Jungle Experience (Brazil)
Salavador, The Carnival City in Brazil
USA National Parks in an RV
Borneo Jungle Adventure, Malaysia
Canada. Vancouver and the Rockies
The Rocky Mountaineer, Canada
Namibian Safari, Africa
Safari In Botswana, Africa
European Travel Highlights
Guidebooks for India
India (Country Guide)
Amazon Price: (as of 11/11/2009)
Frommer's India (Frommer's Complete)
Amazon Price: $16.49 (as of 11/11/2009)
The Rough Guide to Rajasthan, Delhi & Agra
Amazon Price: $16.31 (as of 11/11/2009)
Rajasthan, Delhi & Agra (Regional Guide)
Amazon Price: (as of 11/11/2009)
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Please Leave Feedback
OhMe wrote...
Great photos. I had never heard of Rajasthan so once again you've taught me something. My favorite Tiger is the Clemson Tiger.
Posted August 28, 2009
mulberry wrote...
All of the big cats are fascinating, they way they move is marvelous. Love the photos but the one on Ranthanbhor is my favorite.
Posted August 24, 2009
JaguarJulie wrote...
Those monkey pictures are quite something! Andy, I surely have enjoyed your many unique and so creative lenses. Your photography is superb.
Posted May 01, 2009
by AndyPo
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